108 thoughts on “Virginia at Pitt Open Basketball Thread”

    1. I know. I’ll be old in due time myself and fit in that category.

      But I’m all for diversification by generation.

      We’ve seen how Pitt has been run by the over 50 crowd. Give the younger ones a chance. They might just fix Pitts mess.

      I never discount the wisdom of older generations but I am suspicious of their motives.

      Tex

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  2. UVA favored by 3 is interesting. UVA with scoring problems but tenacious defense and perfect fundamentals should crush Pitt today. Another game that will be very hard to watch. Sit X and we might have a chance.

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  4. Hey Fran, Tex is more like Narduzzi than he realizes. They both have a weird sense of humor that not everyone gets.

    Right Dan, better have a good bottle of scotch on hand and ready for action. It will be your saving grace.

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    1. I don’t mind him cheating. He needs to cheat more bigly.

      What I do mind is that pitt hires a compliance person to prevent this stuff and it happened anyway.

      What hubris.

      Tex

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  7. Pitt may have made their only basket of the half. They will have to score from the foul line.

    The shooters are cold and the UVA D is suffocating.

    EE

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  8. Didn’t take ESPN but the first timeout to mention our little problems. Anything good, they would have waited till the end of the game (like they do all the time in football, when they finally show all the Pitt football hall of famers of the past). When like 50% of the tv audience has tuned out. ESPN/ABC/Disney garbage

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    1. Pitt should run counter programming. Buy tv spots and control the narrative. Pitt has no problem spending money and running up deficits. That would be money well spent to change perception and bolster the brand. But little business acumen exists at Pitt. They need to think more entrepreneurial.

      Tex

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  9. Getting ACC reffed. UVA fundamental B-ball vs Pitt street ball. Wonder who’ll win that? Saw that X raised his release point on his shot. Encouraging. Skippy vs anyone is not a good match UVA point guard eating him alive.

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  10. Skippy so far giving you what you expect, absolutely nothing. Hope this inspires him to gat hot,lol. As soon as he comes in they recognize it and take it to him. Capel sees it and immediately puts Trey on the point guard and Skippy on their slow white guy. Except he is bigger so look for him to post up.
    Really nice to see a game! Champ having struggle to shake free. His weakness is a lack of quickness. Teams figuring him out. Skippy, Skippy, Skippy, maybe still concussed?

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  12. Capel hands are really tied by lack of depth. Forced to play kids who should only get a couple minutes a game. Have to go zone cause Skippy is defensive liability. Only problem is they can’t play zone. Dumbeldorf or whatever his name is awful. Now there is an example of a kid whose star rating was overrated.

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  18. well there was concern here that Pitt wouldn’t be able score 30 today … my guess would be yea

    Skippy. Coulibaly and Hamilton play hard …. they are just not ACC caliber

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  19. Lol, that’s what I thought. X actually played one of his best half’s. Really hurt when he went out. I’ve never seen a team play zone and double so unnessiecarily ( is that a word?). You need to be really active and move in a zone. Oh well. First half was much better than I thought. Almost more points in half than I thought they’d get in the game.
    He will have to play Skippy in second half. Hope the kid gets hot. They could really use it. Look to create some mismatches of our own. Also hope X can stay under control. Look for the Hoos to try and go on big run to start the half. Just stay in contact. Two really good coaches.

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  20. I think Coulibaly could help PITT in a year or two for depth. Skippy getting beat on one play, I didn’t see the defensive liability that others were watching but it would be nice to see him make a shot once in awhile.

    The foul on Johnson was ridiculous.

    PITT is playing ok against a good defense. It’s kind of working out with the recruits at the Pete today. Probably thinking I can help this team, like real soon.

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    1. I think the ACC still thinks they can get Virginia into the Tournament with a couple more wins. They will try hard to accommodate that wish.

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  21. I’m shocked that we remain in striking distance. That will change in the second half. We have not had our 7 minute “we can’t score” meltdown yet.

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  22. Hey Tex, https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/02/university-of-michigan-officials-told-of-abuse-decades-ago.html

    now this makes MSU, Michigan and OSU all with embarrassing violations that have been made public. But apparently, they also nhave incompetent ADs that they publicly announce this .. right!

    But serious …. enough with your foolish gibberish that anything Heather does is bad. Yuo’re really starting to embarrass yourself

    And once again … Heather just beat Stallings and his lawyers like rented mules!

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    1. When I pick fights, I win them. I don’t defend or apologize for incompetence and mediocrity.

      Heather had one job and she failed. Who’s watching the watchwomen. What did she know and when did she know it.

      She would be perfect at Ohio state or Michigan state since compliance is all talk and no substance. And she will be gone at pitt within three years.

      She like the coaches she hires, uses my alma mater as chum for larger fish. And I have that right to say it because I gave pitt my money and time. You can’t say that.

      But I do greatly admire your passion for Pitt as a fan. Some might call you a subway alum. But what pitt needs is more people like you and me who F’n care about sports at Pitt.

      I’d want you on my side in a fight wwb. I really would.

      And Ike you’d be there to. 🤠

      Tex

      Liked by 3 people

      1. The biggest thing having a partner in any type of fight whether it is in a dark alley or on the internet is their willingness to be a part of the fight. I got you back Tex!

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    2. Admittedly, I don’t understand the intricacies of any of this.
      However, how did Heather administer a beat down if Stallings walked with his full-banana $9M buyout?

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  27. Well, there’s the run. Now let’s see if they can respond. This actually would be a good time to use Skippy and hope he gets hot. Ike, he had multiple defensive lapses including when they went zone, that’s why Capel pulled him. Now he needs to step up.

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  31. Forget the basketball game. PITT doesn’t have it this year. Watching Soccer Premier League on NBC. Finally seen worse uniforms than PITT. Manchester City wears yellow shirts with peachy-pink shorts!

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  33. Good balanced scoring from the starters today but again only 1 point from the bench. Virginia got 7. This team will do nothing for another 1-2 years until they get some scoring depth.

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  36. They waited to long before putting on the full court press and turned Virginia over. Or so it seemed.
    Weird ending, why would Marmaduke goaltend that shot.

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    1. Yeah those two played pretty well. We lost to a good team that is playing well by three. If we play like that the rest of the way we will get a few more wins.

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  42. When you start the 2nd half with 2 points in the first 7 minutes, you deserve to lose.

    I turned the game off and went outside in the sunshine and did some Spring clean-up.

    More entertaining than Pitt BB.

    I avoided watching another loss.

    Mrs. Erie assisted with the clean-up. 👍🏼

    EE

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  45. ^^ This kid can’t even walk let alone run. Still wouldn’t mind PITT signing him while building his body, good to take a chance on a project like him than some others. This string bean wouldn’t last a half in the ACC the way he is now. He never leaves his feet.

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  46. Wbb – my wife wonders if Bobroczky can play WR!?? Huge margin of error for Pickett! He could probably catch the slants 95% of the time! And think of him in the Red Zone!

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  47. With more depth in year three under Capel, Pitt has to start winning these games. Four-straight losing seasons and I will have had it with losing records. Please beat Syracuse and at worst Pitt finishes .500.

    Maybe win one in the ACC tourney to finish 17-16. My money is on finishing 15-16.

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  48. Erie — Best wishes to Mrs. Erie Express and you.

    Tough to win when you get one point – one point! – from your bench.

    Go Pitt.

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    1. since hitting the winning shot vs BC on 1/22, Skippy has played in 6 games and only scored in two of them. In fact, he has scored only 2 pts in his last 5 games. That concussion must have really affected him

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    1. Agreed – they lost the winning touch. The rest of the ACC has them figured out too – X was out-played by the UVA PG. Picked the X-man’s pocket a few times / to many missed bunnies by Brown today as well.

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  50. Pitt will lose Hamilton but will bring in 6’8, 6’9 and 6’10 freshmen for sure … and supposedly have the inside track to a 6’6 and 6’5. Also a 6’3 transfer who has practiced all season and allegedly a real good shooter. Two are 4-star and the rest 3-star

    So there should at least be more depth next year

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  51. Pitt baseball beat Eastern Michigan today by a score of 10-4.

    Makes them 5-1 so far in their two trips to Florida — with another game tomorrow against EMU.

    (Nice that they get to make multiple trips to Florida in February. We didn’t get to do that in my day…)

    Go Pitt.

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  52. It was really nice to be able to watch a game, especially one that was so competitive. Instead of dwelling on and pointing out the multiple mistakes and problems I’ll say this. If there was any depth on this team they could be a nightmare using the press. They are quick and athletic. Sort of like those PressVirginia teams of a couple years ago. That would cover up a lot of shooting woes. They’re pretty good turning them over as is, especially in the first half.
    Capel made some really nice moves, ran some set plays that should have worked. Just limited this year. Now, next game they may regress, but this game they had heart.

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  53. Sometimes I wonder what game some of you watched. Or maybe you just listen to the announcers. X, for the most part handled that all American pg pretty well. He did most of his damage when X was out. Also, look at the turnovers. I’m as critical on him as anyone, but he played really well today. And X was the one who picked that kids pocket at the end when it counted. Those BoJangles announcers would never, ever say that. Would ruin their narrative.

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    1. Rewatch the first half before X got his 2nd foul.

      One play early in the first half, X stole the ball for a breakaway to the Pitt basket. The PG picked his pocket cleanly. The dominance continued until X got his 2nd foul.

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  54. Continued: Clark had 6 to most caused by X, compared to 2 by X. Ya, he beat Skippy at least twice, and Trey also, but X was solid.

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      1. 2nd win over a nationally ranked team. Beat Lehigh earlier this season. Lehigh is still ranked higher than we are…

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  56. Hopefully X and Trey dedicate themselves to being the best they can be next year. At least one of them needs to become a leader.

    More of the puzzle pieces will be there if they can put them together they certainly will be much more competitive.

    It seems that Murphy meant a lot more to wins and losses than most people realized. The swoon coincides with his injury, probably not a coincidence.

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  57. A loss is loss no matter how close it was. If we had a close loss in football many on this board would be calling for Narduzzi’s head and immediate firing. But our BB coach gets a pass because he inherited a “dumpster fire” according to him.

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    1. He doesnt get a pass but you can tell he’s extremely frustrated and probably didnt think it would be this difficult putting out that fire. He’s used to winning so this losing must really suck for him. It was a good effort by Pitt yesterday. Shows me the players havent quit. Again this is only Year 2 after the basketball program was the worst in all P-5. Expect next year to be the ‘Leap’ forward out of the fire. If not, Capel deserves fans unleashing Hell.

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    1. Movie 2020 coming out this Fall

      Tex and wwb must take orders across hostile enemy lines instructing ike to tell Narduzzi to go for it on 4th and goal against the Domers.

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  60. Anom: I’m not sure what you’re saying? Clark only had 1 steal, and 6 turnovers. X had 6 steals and 2 turnovers. He did a good job on him. I’m assuming you’re saying he did a great job till he got his second( somewhat questionable) foul.

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    1. Clark had 6 of Virginia’s 16 turnovers, but also provided much of the Cavaliers’ early cushion before X got his questionable 2nd foul. With Pitt leading after the game’s first seven minutes, Clark went on a personal 7-0 run to put Virginia ahead for good. Clark finished 6 of 11 from the floor, made 2 of 3 from 3-point range and also grabbed five rebounds.

      Clark was also a key cog in the Cavaliers’ defense that stifled the Panthers. Pitt shot 38.6% overall and was 20% (3 of 15) from 3-point range. After trailing by just 2 at the half, Pitt missed 12 of its first 13 shots in the second half while Virginia extended their lead.

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  61. Ya, X was 6-10, had 6 assists and 2 turnovers. He played him even at worst. Clark’s major damage was blowing by Skippy twice for easy hoops and a couple on McGowens. Had 1 steal. Those 7 came when X was on the bench. Remember, as a pg, he had 2 assists.

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  64. Amen, Tex. And if he plays like crap I’ll call him on it. But I do try to give credit when deserved. Also, thought Toney quietly played some good d also. I’m not 100% positive, but thought quite a few of those UVa 3s came vs zone.

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  65. I know T Brown can be frustrating at times but he’s played a wee bit better in spurts lately imo. I keep hoping something will click in his sleepy brain on of these games.

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    1. Ike: He clearly has ability, and some decent shooting range for a guy who is 6’ 10”.

      But he’s just so soft, and plays with no fire. And it does not appear that his hands have improved much.

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  66. It is unusual to see guys be so positive after a loss. I am glad to see guys taking the long view. The team is pretty competitive for a group of freshmen and sophomores, with key components missing and little depth.

    Help is on the way, but everyone in the ACC has a new class coming as well. Hopefully we are trending upward, but it won’t be a straight line.

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    1. Pitts program was dead two years ago. It wasn’t a dumpster fire Capel inherited. It was a nuclear holocaust.

      Football has been stable since Walt. Albeit mediocre.

      Tex

      Tex

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  67. Who are you and what have you done with Tex?

    All kidding aside, I am mostly in agreement except for the Wanny, Heywood, Graham fiasco. Chryst was definitely mediocre, but I think Narduzzi has been slightly better than mediocre.

    Will he actually hit good on the scale this year? Only time will tell.

    Loving the West coast.

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    1. I agree. Narduzzi has been better than the standard of mediocrity at Pitt. Chryst and Fraud were truly mediocre. But I don’t believe Narduzzi is a coach that can win big at Pitt…ten win season and Florida bowl. Wanny was a horrible coach but was the most passionate. And yes that ten win coach was horrible at coaching. I’m sure bears 🐻 and dolphins 🐬 fans will agree.

      Tex

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  68. On the tex mex, dont tex and drive scale, slightly better than mediocre, is mediocre, followed by a little below average. Directionally challenged, me and tex from cleveland.

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  69. Hey Mike suggestion for an article after your great weekend in review piece or I’m just throwing this out there now. In the past 37 years of PITT football…… Who is your favorite football head coach and least favorite? Haymaker and Graham don’t count.

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  71. —Pitt baseball won today to go to 6-1. And I see where they are headed back to Florida next weekend, which I think will be 3 weekends in a row. Certainly a way bigger baseball budget these days…

    —Women’s basketball lost to a top-ten Louisville team. Louisville started 4 seniors and a sophomore. Pitt started 4 freshmen and a Juco… What’s wrong with this picture??

    —Went to the game because it was Senior day for Aysia Bugg, who sat out with a blood-clot issue last season. Also, Coach Josh did a nice Chalk Talk before the game…

    Go Pitt.

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  72. Ike…good idea…I was born in ‘76 and Majors and Sherill are as good as it gets, but I was too young to appreciate them…for me it’s Walt as my fav and Paul “I can’t” Hackett as least fav…

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  73. Big Gottfried fan too. Billy Owens pick six vs the Nitters is one of my best childhood memories. Remember Mike diving in the pile celebrating in the end zone. So mad I lost those yellow Pom poms they gave out for that game. I had them for like 30 yrs and lost them or accidentally pitched them when I moved a couple years ago. Still have an Iron City can my old man gave me(empty of course) that lists our National Championships and says #1 in 81…unfortunately that didn’t work out the way it was supposed to. 48-14 happened…

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